This chapter began with the start of the tenure of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu ruling over Israel in the 23rd year of Joash the King of Judah. Joash did evil in the sight of God and God allowed Hazel to take over and rule after he assassinated Aram.
Then Jehoahaz prayed for the Lord’s help, and the Lord heard his prayer, for he could see how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. So the Lord provided someone to rescue the Israelites from the tyranny of the Arameans. Then Israel lived in safety again as they had in former days. 2 Kings 13:4-5 NLT
Jehoahaz saw the wickedness of Aram and prayed to God to vindicate Israel against their oppressors. From these verses we can see how powerful praying to God is. It's not that God isnt aware of our situation but through prayer we lay it down before His throne and He is able to give us the best outcome instead of us taking matters into our own hands.
I pray that God will deliver us from all tyranny and oppression from the pit of hell that is manifested through human in our lives in Jesus name.
The scripture noted how the children of Israel continued to sin and due to this their enemy was able to kill them and win battles against them.
As a believer, it's not enough to confess that we know God, it is highly important that we prioritize righteous living. Righteous living can't be achieved based on human ability and capacity, it takes constant communion and acknowledgement of the God who created us and reverencing Him above anything else.
Jehoahaz died then his son Jehoash became king, he didn't learn from the repercussions of his father's ways he did same as his father not totally serving God and following the precepts of God. Jehoash died after reigning 16 years.
When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried. Elisha told him, “Get a bow and some arrows.” And the king did as he was told. Elisha told him, “Put your hand on the bow,” and Elisha laid his own hands on the king’s hands. Then he commanded, “Open that eastern window,” and he opened it. Then he said, “Shoot!” So he shot an arrow. Elisha proclaimed, “This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over Aram, for you will completely conquer the Arameans at Aphek.” Then he said, “Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground.” So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. “You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.”
2 Kings 13:14-19NLT
The scripture is so informative and we must not take the word with levity. Elisha was on his death bed when Jehoash visited him, he clearly saw the chariots and charioteers. My prayer is at the end may we experience a glorious exit not a dooming exit. He knew Elisha was about to die and it appears as if Jehoash wanted to collect last blessing in which Elisha put his hand on the hands of Jehoash asking him to shoot the arrow of victory over Aram. Remember Aram was their oppressor and the tyrant after shooting the arrow, Elisha said he should strike it against the ground which he did 3 times and Elisha was furious that he should have struck it about 6 times but due to how Jehoash limited the striking of the arrow 3 times so his victory will be 3 times. One must be very careful at how you obey a prophet. Perhaps if Jehoash, had asked Elisha how many times may be he would have known he should do more than 3 times.
Lord please give me divine understanding when I receive prophetic instructions do not let me use my limited human understanding to short change my blessings in any aspect in Jesus name amen.
The type of anointing that Elisha had was still manifesting even after his death his bones brough a dead man back to live.
Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!
2 Kings 13:20-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.13.20-21.NLT
God is unquestionable in all areas, a dead prophet's bone brought back a dead man. God works in mysterious ways none can question him.
King Hazael of Aram had oppressed Israel during the entire reign of King Jehoahaz. But the Lord was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And to this day he still has not completely destroyed them or banished them from his presence. King Hazael of Aram died, and his son Ben-hadad became the next king. Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns that had been taken from Jehoash’s father, Jehoahaz. Jehoash defeated Ben-hadad on three occasions, and he recovered the Israelite towns.
2 Kings 13:22-25 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.13.22-25.NLT
Lord please be gracious to us and never allow our oppressors to have the last say. Grant us victory and help us to acknowledged you as God in Jesus name amen.
2 Kings 14
Amaziah son of Joash began to rule over Judah in the second year of the reign of King Jehoash of Israel. Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem. Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash. Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.
2 Kings 14:1-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.14.1-4.NLT
Amazing did just like his father, what baffles me in this royal lineage is that they served God partially and we know our God is a jealous God. You can't serve Him partially, is either you serve Him or you don't. The lesson picked from here as a believer is that we must seek God in our personal journey and not imitate what was done by people before us or even people we reverence as leaders in faith.
When Amaziah was well established as king, he executed the officials who had assassinated his father. However, he did not kill the children of the assassins, for he obeyed the command of the Lord as written by Moses in the Book of the Law: “Parents must not be put to death for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents. Those deserving to die must be put to death for their own crimes.”
2 Kings 14:5-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.14.5-6.NLT
In those days it appears as though the king's take laws into their hands but they still follow the laws of Moses. However, this no longer the ways we should live in this dispensation of grace, allowing God to avenge for us is important than taking laws into our hands.
2 Kings 14: 7- 22 recorded the events that happened in the life of Jehoash and how Amazing became king over Judah and the conspiracy raised against him.
For the Lord saw the bitter suffering of everyone in Israel, and that there was no one in Israel, slave or free, to help them. And because the Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel completely, he used Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, to save them.
2 Kings 14:26-27 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ki.14.26-27.NLT
After the death of Jehoash, Jeroboam II became the king and God used him to deliver Israel after God saw the suffering and bitterness of the children of Israel. In as much as Jeroboam II was not 100% walking in line 2ith the will of God, God used him because He wanted to keep is own part of the covenant He has with Israel.
God doesn't forget His covenant, as human we might forget but God always play His path and fulfill His promises.
Lord I pray, no matter where I am never neglect me or forget your covenant concerning me, bring them to manifestation in all aspect in Jesus name amen.
After the death of Jeroboam II Zachariah his son became King over Israel.
2 Kings 15
Uzziah son of Amaziah began to rule over Judah in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel. He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. But he did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there. The Lord struck the king with leprosy, which lasted until the day he died. He lived in isolation in a separate house. The king’s son Jotham was put in charge of the royal palace, and he governed the people of the land.
2 Kings 15:1-5 NLT
Uzziah became King at 16 and ruled for 52 years however he did just as the other kings before him and did not destroy the pagan altar but God struck him with leprosy and he had to live in isolation.
This here reminds me of the scripture that says God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy on. In the case of the other kings they kind of got away with partial obedience but Uzziah paid with his whole existence what is the use of a King that lived in Isolation.
My father, my father, whatever I do, wherever I am, whoever I become always let the fire of obedience to your burn within me, let me restless until I obey you fully, destroy pattern of partial obedience from my life in Jesus name.
Zechariah son of Jeroboam II began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Uzziah’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria six months. Zechariah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, as his ancestors had done. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit. Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, assassinated him in public, and became the next king.
2 Kings 15:8-10 NLT
Zechariah son of Jeroboam II paid with his life because he followed the pattern of his ancestors partial obedience. His life ended brutally, public assassination
Lord , I come to you today, remove every seed of partial obedience from my lineage in Jesus mighty name
Lord break patterns and cycles that automatically becomes a generational inheritance that is against your will in my life and family in Jesus name
From 2 Kings 15: 13-36 all the kings that reigned were partially obedient to God.
Being in the position of power or authority doesn't exempt any man from fully obeying God. These royals and their lineage did not change their ways, they continued thesame mistakes as their predecessors. When a mistake is repeated it's often referred to as habits instead of mistake.
There is no excuse when you see people before you fall into the same sin and you fail not to learn from them. It's understandable to some existence of you didn't witness it but majority of these kings witnessed it.
To you that is reading are their patterns that do not align with God in your lineage, are their cycles that feels humanly right or comfortable but is not aligning with the word of God you can break it.
Ask God for grace to break it, breakthrough and break free in Jesus name
Be conscious and determined to live your life pleasing your maker not the honour of your blood line.
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